Pistol



April 7, 1959 P. VON F'RANTZIUS 2,880,543

`PISTOL Filed June 26, 1956 United States Patent Gas-Munitions Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 26, 1956, Serial No. 593,973

s claims. (ci. 42.-'1)

The present invention relates to pistols, and more particularly to that type of pistol which operates to discharge an incapacitating uid, such as tear gas. Preferably the pistol is in the shape of and Isimulates a fountain pen.

The gear gas is contained in a cartridge which isplaced in the pistol for firing or discharging. Such cartridge has an outer shape similar to that of a firearm cartridge, orone firing a bullet, and the pistol may therefore offer a temptation to fire a cartridge having a bullet therein.

An object of the invention is'to provide a pistol of the foregoing character in which it is impossible effectively to fire a firearm cartridge.

A more specific object is to provide a pistol of the character noted, in which, in an attempt to lire a firearm cartridge, the gas intended for propelling the bullet is dissipated in such a way as to be ineffective for so propelling the bullet.

A further object is to provide a pistol of the foregoing character, in which, although the propelling gas for a bullet is harmlessly dissipated, a cartridge of intended kind, e.g., of tear gas, can be -utilized and discharged in a normal manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pistol embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the pistol, the barrel of the pistol being shown with a tear gas cartridge therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the barrel of the pistol removed from the stock;

Fig. 6 is a view of the pistol oriented according to Fig. 1 and showing the barrel in section and with a bullet-equipped firearm cartridge therein, and p Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but after firing of the firearm cartridge and resultant rupture of the barrel.

The pistol shown in the accompanying drawing includes certain construction disclosed in Reissue Patent No. 17,- 813 granted to me on September 23., 1930, and reference may be made to that patent for additional detailed description of any of the construction of the present pistol common to the structure of that patent.

The pistol includes two main parts, namely a stock 10 and a barrel 12. These two parts are detachably secured together for insertion of a cartridge 14 (Fig. 2) of the desired type, namely for discharging an incapacitating iluid such as tear gas.

The pistol, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, is generally in the shape of a fountain pen and is intended to simulate a fountain pen so as to appear as such when carried in an outer pocket. The stock 10 may be of any suitable material such as a metal having the desired strength, and

view taken on the line 3-3 of va sectional viewl taken on the`1ineA--4 of rice has an internally threaded front end indicated at 16 for threadedly receiving the barrel 12. A breech block 18 is threaded in the front end of the stock and positioned rearwardly or inwardly from the front end edge thereof and thus inwardly of the barrel.

The cartridge is tired by means of a ring pin 20 projectable through a central aperture in the breech block and formed on the front end of a plunger 22 having a socket or recess 24 in its rear end. The recess 24 receives the forward end of a compression spring `26, the rear l end of which is'tted in a cooperating recess 28 in a cap 30 secured in the rear end of the stock by suitable means such as interftting screw threads. If desired, a pocket clip 32 may be secured at the rear end of the stock as by a band on the clip gripped -betweena shoulder on the cap and the rear end of the stock. The plunger 22 together with the firing pin 20 is actuated by manual manipulation by means of a stud 34. The latter is secured in the plunger and rides or slides in a longitudinal slot 36 in the stock. The head of the stud is exposed for engagement by the thumb, and upon retraction of the stud against the action of the spring 26 and subsequent release, the plunger and firing pin are snapped forwards, whereupon the tiring pin tires the cartridge.

The barrel 12 is of tubular construction and is also of a metal possessing relatively great strength so as to withstand the pressures developed upon discharge of the cartridge 14. As noted above, the cartridge 14 is of the type for discharging a fluid such as tear gas, and in itself is of conventional or standard construction. It includes a tubular shell 38 and a head 40 having a ange of greater diameter than the shell. The barrel has a reduced, rear end portion 42 that is externally threaded, and screw threaded into the forward end of the stock 10, and upon threading therein a predetermined extent, it grips the head of the cartridge between itself and the breech block 18. If desired the rear end of the threaded rear end portion 42 may be of reduced diameter so as to form on the barrel a rearwardly facing shoulder 44 for engaging the forward end edge of the stock. The portion of the stock surrounding the reduced rear end portion 42 of the barrel imparts strength to the latter for preventing breakage, as will be explained in detail below.

In order to prevent the effective firing of a firearm cartridge of the type that discharges a projectile or bullet, the barrel is provided with a weakened portion so arranged and disposed as to effect rupture of the barrel upon discharge of such a firearm cartridge, if an attempt were made to fire the latter in the pistol. To this end the barrel 12 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 46 in its outer surface. This groove is of sub-` stantial length with respect to the length of the barrel and is disposed preferably between the ends thereof. The groove is also narrow, and of substantial depth relatively to the thickness of the side wall of the barrel. It will be noted that the groove does. not extend through the wall of the barrel, and the side wall of the barrel therefore is continuously imperforate in its original condition before rupture. The inner surface of the barrel is of uniform character circumferentially and is preferably of truly cylindrical shape. If desired, however, the forward end of the inner surface, or muzzle portion, may be flared outwardly, as disclosed in the above-mentioned reissue patent. Preferably the forward end portion or muzzle portion 48 is tapered forwardly on its outer surface in order to provide a finished appearance and also to provide a relatively weakened portion of the barrel that ruptures or splits more readily than the rear or inner end portion of the barrel.

Since a pistol of the above general character has certain characteristics in common with a fire arm pistol there may be a temptation to fire a iirearm cartridge therein, and so long as such a cartridge can be fitted in the barrel of the pistol and the tiring pin made to strike the cap thereof, the ycartridgecan be red. The .construction of the ,present` invention renders .it .impossible effectively to yiire sucha rearmcartridge. Figs. 6 and 7..,illustrate the same pistoldescribedabove butwith a rearm..car tridge 50 therein. It will be, noted thatthe cartridge150 is of external dimensions `similar to thosezof .the :cartridge 14, .andhas .a bullet or projectile 52. In the-event a cartridge such as the cartridge 50 `isired, thepressurc developedl in .the cartridge is substantiallyfgreaterthall the ypressuredeveloped in the cartridge 14. VThis .pressure ruptures orsplitsthe.barrel at .the Weakened. j.portion're sultingiromk the formation of vthegroove.,46. As a resultthepressure -isdissipated from` its intended .direction of application, .namely it is .expelled sideways through the ruptured barrel .and the bullet, While itgmay be projectedforwardly out of the barrel, is so projected only as extremely Yshort distance, such as ,afew feet, and then falls with-ino lethal eiectonthe intended target.

rEhe iioor or bottom ofthe groove 46 is relatively thin, as will benoted from the sectional viewsand this portion is subject lto ready rupture or splitting by the pressure developed within thebarrel when aregular firearm cartridge is rmed in the barrel of thepistol. The portion 48 on the muzzle of the barrel is of less .wall thickness than the.. remainder of the ungrooved portion of the barrel and while vit is of-greater thickness .than the floor of the` groove andsplits .after the groovedportion splits, it splits beforethe portion rearwardly of the groove, so that the barrel upon rupture opens up -to a condition similar to that of Fig. 7. The latter gure isvan exact drawing l,of .a barrel and cartridge ruptured or -split -due to an attempted ring of a lbullet-equipped firearm cartridge. The rearportion of the barrel is relatively strong and will rupture only after successive rupture of the central and front endportions. Becauseofthe abrupt change in thickness of the barrel at the shoulder-44, the barrel may be sheared clean at this point, since the stock, because it surrounds the reduced portion 42 of the barrel, imparts greater strength to the latter and prevents 4breakage thereof and causes .the shearing eiect mentioned. As a result, the rear vend portion l42 of the barrel is not distorted and it may be readily threaded out of the stock. A new barrel may `then be threaded into the stock.

.ThesbarreL notwithstanding .thegroove ,46,. is imperforate throughout its side wall in` its originaleondition, and is capable .ofwithstandingpthe pressure developed by the tear,V gas cartridge, whereby Ythe tear-gas is ,alle discharged ,out of the; forward `end of the Abarrel as intended.

While Ihave disclosed :herein a .r preferred embodiments of thefinvention, .it will be understood that Vchanges may be made `therein-within the spirit-and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture,a pistol adapted primarily to discharge an incapacitating gasand comprising a hollow stock, -an elongated one-piece` cylindrical l4 imperforatemetal barrel having one end thereof open and its other end connectedv removably to the stock and shaped releasably to retain either a conventional gas cartridge which when fired develops comparatively low pressure and a similarly dimensioned bullet-equipped rearm cartridge which when fired develops comparatively high pressure, and a springbiase'diring pin mounted slidably in the stock and adapted-:when retracted and then released while a cartridge is in the barrel to tire the cartridge; said* barrel'v presenting-fa" smooth unobstructed cylindrical bore, the lmetal of said f Vbarrel :being vrelieved along a longitudinal region of the barrel to'thus weaken the barrel,nircumferentiallyyalong saidyregionso that the barrel will rupture therealong whensubjected internally lto the explosive forceofialbullet-equipped firearm cartridge, whereby the bullet will be displaced laterally of the ruptured barrelv in the radial direction of the relieved -.1ongtudinal .'region.

,12.As z arnewf-,article fofymanufacture, :1a :piston adapted primarilyrtoxdischarge.fan incapaeitating gaseand comprisinga;;hollow- .1stock, fan .elongated `.one-piece -imperforate metal Abarrel;.presentingfa 1 smooth f Iunobstructed cylindrica1.metal:bore,-.said barrelehavi-ngone-.end thereof open and Vits,;other end connected removablyto the stock and shaped releasablyfto retain either .a conventional gas cartridge .rwhich.when. red develops .comparatively low pressureand a similar-lydirnensioned bullet-.equipped rearm cartridge fwhichwhen fired ydevelops. .comparatively high pressure, and a spring-biaseddiring fpin mounted slidablyafintthe stockaandyadaptedwhen retracted and thenV released while-a` cartridge is yinthe-,barrel .to lire the cartridge, the outer.l surface; Ofsaid-.barrel being-formed with aastraightraxially extending .uninterrupted groove in the outer surface thereof substantially .coextensive lwith theflongitudinal extent ofythe barrel, the zdepth. of said groovey being sufficiently; great, ,as to weakenZ the barrel circumferentially, along .the linear,y extent of. l.the groove on onesideof :the barrel, vthea' extent ,to` whichf the barrel is thus weakened being such that the barrel -willwithstand thelow,-pressure;.explosive forcel of.a conventional gas cartridge but'-.-.vvill..r,upture .in the vvicinity of; said groove when-suhjected internally to the'explosive force of ra bullet-equipped cartridge, whereby the bullet will-be displaced laterally of the ruptured barrel in the radial direction -of the Aaxially .extendingl groove.

13. v-Asa; new farticlerof manufacture,.fa;pistol ras set forth in claim 2 wherein the open endet-,the barrel is tapered 'and'- wherein ssaid axially extending ,1. groove is partially embodied'by said tapered end.

References Cited in thele of this patent UNIT ED STATES PATENTS 1,275,082 =Kuhn ,Aug. 20, 1918 .1,608,359 Biason .Nov. 23, 1926 1,760,674 Frantzius May 27, 1930 11,772,070 Darley Aug. 5, 1930 2,067,408 Morris -Jan. 12, 1937 2,757,474 Williams Apg. 7, f 195 6 

